Netflix’s $4M Bet on Nouvelle Vague Sets Record for French Films

Netflix is making major waves at Cannes and this time, it’s all about French cinema. In a record-breaking move, the streaming giant closed a jaw-dropping $4 million domestic deal for Richard Linklater’s latest creation, Nouvelle Vague, a dazzling homage to Jean-Luc Godard’s 1960 masterpiece Breathless. The Netflix Nouvelle Vague deal is now officially the biggest domestic spend for a French-language movie to date.

Premiering to an 11-minute standing ovation at the Cannes Film Festival, Nouvelle Vague is already stirring serious awards buzz. With Linklater’s impeccable resume (hello, Boyhood and Before Midnight) and a cast channeling cinema royalty—Guillaume Marbeck as Godard, Zoey Deutch as Jean Seberg, and newcomer Aubry Dullin as Belmondo—this film is being hailed as a “love letter to cinema.”

Bold Deal for a Foreign Film

Netflix’s move isn’t just about art—it’s about positioning. After their success with Emilia Pérez last season, which brought home two Oscars, the streamer is clearly hoping Nouvelle Vague will ride a similar wave. Insiders say a limited U.S. theatrical release is planned before its global streaming debut.

The film also stars legendary portrayals of auteurs like Jean Cocteau, Roberto Rossellini, and Agnes Varda, and it oozes nostalgia for the iconic French New Wave. Scripted by a dream team including Vince Palmo and Laetitia Masson, and produced by ARP Selection, this is not just another arthouse flick—it’s a full-blown cinematic event.

Whether Nouvelle Vague will sweep the awards circuit or simply charm cinephiles everywhere, one thing’s clear: the Netflix Nouvelle Vague deal is the streamer’s boldest statement yet in foreign film.